Lung Cancer Specialist
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Florida Lung & Sleep Associates
Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine located in Lehigh Acres & Fort Myers, FL
Lung cancer is the most common kind of cancer worldwide, but it’s now on the decline thanks to education, early detection, and effective treatment. At Florida Lung & Sleep Associates in Lehigh Acres and Fort Myers, Florida, our caring pulmonary medicine professionals are experts in all aspects of lung cancer diagnosis and management. Book your visit by calling the office nearest you, or click the online appointment maker now.
Lung Cancer Q & A
How common is lung cancer?
Not counting skin cancer, lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer among American adults. This type of cancer typically originates inside your breathing passages, called the bronchi.
Lung cancer that begins in another area of the body and then travels into the lungs is metastatic cancer to the lungs.
What causes lung cancer?
The number one cause of lung cancer is cigarette smoking. As you inhale cigarette smoke, healthy lung cells can become damaged and then cancerous. Although smokers are the most vulnerable, you can still get lung cancer from secondhand smoke.
You also have an increased risk of developing lung cancer if you undergo radiation treatment to the chest, or if you're around radon gas, asbestos, arsenic, and other carcinogens.
Genetics can play a role in lung cancer, as well. If you have a first-degree relative with lung cancer, you're more likely to develop it yourself.
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
Lung cancer symptoms may be different for every sufferer, but the most common symptoms are:
- Breathing difficulties and wheezing
- Chronic cough, which may produce blood
- Joint pain
- Chest pain
- Poor appetite
- Unintended weight loss
- Chronic fatigue
- Difficulty swallowing
- Facial swelling
- Arm swelling
Symptoms can worsen significantly in the later stages of the disease.
How is lung cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosing lung cancer may involve several different tests, including X-ray imaging and microscopic examination of lung fluid. Your medical provider at Florida Lung & Sleep Associates may also perform a bronchoscopy, in which they access and examine cancerous tissue using a slender lighted tube.
If necessary, your provider can remove a tiny cell sample (biopsy) during the bronchoscopy. Then, they can examine the tissue under a microscope.
How is lung cancer treated?
Our medical specialists at Florida Lung & Sleep Associates personalize lung cancer treatment for you.
Treatment often includes a combination of therapies, including:
- Chemotherapy: oral or intravenous drugs to destroy the cancer
- Radiation: powerful rays to destroy the cancer
- Targeted therapy: medications that prevent cancer progression
- Surgery: physical removal of cancerous tissue within your lungs
Our providers at Florida Lung & Sleep Associates regularly conduct clinical trials, as well. This allows patients to have first access to some of the newest treatment protocols and medicines. If you're a good candidate for a clinical trial, the team can help you qualify. Our Florida Lung & Sleep Associates team includes leading lung cancer experts who are ready to guide you through diagnosis, treatment, and health maintenance with care and compassion. Book your appointment by calling the office nearest you or click the online appointment maker now.
